The catastrophic birth defect anencephaly affects about 1 in 4,600 pregnancies in the U.S. It is largely preventable with folic acid supplements.

From succubi to aliens, stories of abductions or other unsettling encounters have been with us for millennia. What explains them?

Beautiful people really know how to catch a break.

Your brain is remarkably good at mapping out physical spaces — even if it's an imaginary space like Hogwarts. But how does the brain do it?

When reading critiques that inflate the uncertainty of science, ask these 7 questions.

A boy in Germany seems to be the first person to be cured of a rare and painful skin condition commonly called "butterfly disease."

Morning, afternoon, or night: When is the best time to exercise? Scientists have extensively studied this question. Here's what they found.

For the fewer than 50 people with this blood type, finding a blood transfusion could be extremely difficult.

Temporal lobe epilepsy seems to rewire a part of the brain that's key to storing memories.

It started with a 22-year-old woman, named in papers only as Mrs McK.

Stem cell-derived chondrocytes could be the key to regenerating damaged cartilage.

This article was originally published on our sister site, Freethink. Fifteen volunteers in France just spent more than a month living in a cave — without any way to tell time — […]

When we satisfy our curiosity, the brain has a particular way of rewarding us.

Research reminds us that mild cognitive impairment isn’t necessarily a prelude to dementia.

The gospels imply that Jesus became famous as much for his exorcisms as his ministry.

The model is almost eight hours ahead of a doctor's recognition of a patient's deterioration.

Whether NASA likes it or not, humans eventually will be having space sex.

Americans have a lower life expectancy than people in other rich countries despite paying much more for healthcare. We explore the number of factors which might explain this difference.

Experiencing too much pleasure and not enough pain may yield counterintuitive consequences.

Evolutionary game theory could tip the advantage to medicine.

Immune booster or pure torture?

Our brains might be flooded with the hallucinogen DMT as we die, leading to vivid dreams.

Today, every Homo species is extinct besides humans. But one of our close evolutionary relatives still lives on in our DNA.

In tough competitions, men tend to give up early when they feel a low sense of control. Testosterone eradicates that effect.

The results of a recent study suggest that some clinicians might be failing to explore other causes when treating gender dysphoria.

The paper-thin device may also someday be used to stimulate bone growth.

The human brain makes a striking deviation from the normal building plan.

A recent study overviews the thinnest X-ray detector ever created.

Some of the most popular "anti-aging" diets show promise in rodent studies. But are they effective for humans?

An evolutionary biologist explains why you probably won't grow a tail.